Jake O’Regan of Kilkee finished in thirteenth place in the Antrim Coast Half Marathon (Elite Race A) while representing his country on Sunday.
Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer won the men’s race in a time of 60:30 just holding off the challenge of Tesfahun Akalnew from Ethiopia and Nigeria’s Shadrack Kimining who finished only seconds behind in 60:31 and 60:32 respectively.
Ryan Creech was the first Irish finisher, the Leevale AC runner was sixth in 63:23, the twenty nine year old earlier this month ran a sub-49 minute 10 Mile earlier in Kilbeggan.
Seventh place fell to Paul O’Donnell of Dundrum South Dublin in 63:37 secs. Northern Irish athlete Stephen Scullion, who dropped out of the marathon at the Tokyo Olympics, finished tenth in 63:54.
Clare’s very own O’Regan who is a member of St John’s AC took thirteenth spot in 64:16 and was the third athlete from the Republic of Ireland home to the finish line. The time and placing of the twenty eight year old has been praised within the county’s athletic circles.
A new women’s world best time was set at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon when Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw aged twenty two clocked a time of 63 minutes 43 seconds which cut 19 seconds off the previous mark set by the Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich in Istanbul last April.
